CONSERVATIVE THINKERS

Question 1

THINKERS

Answer 1

• Burke
• Hobbes
• Oakeshott
• Ayn Rand
• Nozick

Question 2

BURKE

Answer 2

• Founder of modern conservatism
• “Reflections on the Revolution in France” 1790- heavily opposed it; systems should be preserved: gradual change over revolutionary; better to learn from history than try untested ideas
• Human Nature: Flawed, needs guidance from tradition and established institutions. Shaped by habit and custom- thrives in stable hierarchical communities
• State: should be preserved, rises organically and should be aristocratic- rule in the interests of all; disagreed with egalitarian schemes
• Society: social contract between dead, alive, those to be born; bound by tradition and shared values; slow pragmatic change to preserve social cohesion- valued family, church, monarchy
• Economy: Organic free markets and laissez-faire capitalism, redistribution is unnatural, ties of family/ neighbourhood/ title to property were more natural

Question 3

HOBBES

Answer 3

• First wrote about human selfishness
• “Leviathan” 1651: limitations of human nature, dominant state needed to keep order of “nasty, bruttish, short” nature of humans
• Human Nature: selfish, driven by desire of supremacy and security; without law and order chaos would arise
• State: must be autocratic and absolute (Leviathan) to keep order (hierarchical and authoratitative view)- arises with consent of its people sacrificing liberty for order and security
• Society: no society until state brings order and authority, without it life is “nasty, bruttish, and short”
• Economy: State needs to guarantee order and security for a constructive and enduring economy

Question 4

OAKESHOTT

Answer 4

• “Rationalism in Politics” and “On Human Conduct”- prefer the familiar to the unknown, tried to untried
• Defined Conservatism as keeping customs and systems opposed to radical changes
• Believed conservatives should be practical and not highly ideological
• Human Nature: intellectually imperfect, needy and vulnerable, incapable of understanding complex political ideologies (used Soviet communism as an example)
• State: guided by tradition and practicality; maintained- not radically changed; increased state intervention not ideal; maintained order and rules rather than imposing ideological goals
• Society: unpredictable and complex, tapestry of traditions and practices evolving organically, opposed rapid reforms that disrupted social cohesion
• Economy: free-market economy with minimal state intervention, markets part of society’s organic traditions; supported economic freedom as an expression of individual agency. Some pragmatic state oversight needed.

Question 5

RAND

Answer 5

• Proposed radical ideas and neo-liberal policies, opposed conservative paternalism (state intervention for a just society); Believed in objectivism and self-interest
• Her book “Atlas Shrugged” focused on freedom and individuality; against a restrictive socialist government
• Human Nature: should and is guided by rational self-interest and self-fulfilment; altruism is immoral, must put your needs above others’: rational egoist
• State: confine itself to law, order, and national security; state intervention should be heavily restricted
• Society: Atomistic- made up of self-interest and self-sufficient individuals operating separately; attempts to restrict individuals in the name of society should be challenged
• Economy: free market capitalism should not be hindered by the state, expression of objectivist individualism- only way for individuals to be truly free

Question 6

NOZICK

Answer 6

• Right-wing libertarian
• “Anarchy, the state and utopia”- proposed minarchist state, minimal with highly limited power
• Human nature: rational, driven by self-ownership allowing humans to realise own potential; humans allowed to freely organize their lives as long as they respect each others’ rights
• State: Minarchist, no redistribution of resources (argued these would be given to groups needed to win elections like the elderly); if state had control over individuals they would be forced to work for a common goal rather than self-determination
• Society: should be geared to self-fulfilment- could lead to plethora of small communities dedicated to their members’ desires- rejects social engineering
• Economy: State should detach from privatised and deregulated economy- only arbitrating disputes; opposed tax as “legalised theft”; free-market capitalism best